LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

Existing law requires a person seeking to import a dog into this state for the purpose of resale or a change of ownership to obtain a health certificate for the dog that has been completed by a licensed veterinarian and is dated within 10 days prior to the date on which the dog is brought into the state. Existing law prohibits a breeder from knowingly selling a diseased dog.

This bill would require authorize the State Public Health Officer to investigate certain reports of outbreaks of communicable diseases
monitor any report issued by a reliable and verifiable public source of an outbreak of a communicable disease occurring in another state caused by, or purported to be caused by, contact with a dog or cat to determine, among other things, the probable impacts of the communicable disease on the state. cat. The bill would authorize the officer, upon investigation and specific findings, officer to issue an order to prohibit the importation of dogs or cats that could pose a risk of an outbreak of any communicable disease that is dangerous to individuals.
individuals, if he or she makes a determination, as specified. The bill would impose a civil penalty for a violation of an order issued pursuant to these provisions.

Digest Key

Vote:
MAJORITY
Appropriation:
NO
Fiscal Committee:
YES
Local Program:
NO

Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Chapter 1.3 (commencing with Section 121715) is added to Part 6 of Division 105 of the Health and Safety Code, to read:

CHAPTER
1.3. importation of diseased dogs and cats

121715.

The State Public Health Officer shall investigate, or cause an investigation to be made of, may monitor any report issued by a reliable and verifiable public source of an outbreak of a communicable disease occurring in another state caused by, or purported to be caused by, contact with a dog or cat issued by a reliable and verifiable public source, including,
cat. For purposes of this chapter, a reliable and verifiable public source may include, but is not limited to, the federal National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System, to determine the extent, source, and location of the communicable disease and the probable impacts of the communicable disease on the state. the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

121715.5.

(a) If upon investigation the State Public Health Officer finds determines that the importation of dogs or cats into this state from another state for the purpose of resale or change of ownership could pose a risk of an outbreak of any communicable disease that is dangerous to individuals, the State Public Health Officer may issue an order to prohibit the importation of those affected dogs or cats. The State
Public Health Officer’s determination may include, but is not limited to, the extent, source, and location of the communicable disease and the probable impacts of the communicable disease on the state.

(b) The State Public Health Officer shall tailor the order to reasonably prevent danger to individuals caused by the importation of those affected dogs or cats linked to the outbreak and specify the date or conditions under which the order expires.

121715.10.

(a) A person who violates an order issued pursuant to this chapter by importing a prohibited dog or cat into this state shall be subject to a civil penalty of five hundred dollars ($500) for each separate imported prohibited dog or cat.

(b) A violation of an order issued pursuant to this chapter shall not constitute a crime.

(c) For purposes of this section, “person” shall mean an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, association, or other entity.